I'll be spending the rest of the year working for UPS in Spokane. My run will be from Spokane to Missoula, MT and back. Monday I stopped off in St. Regis, MT for breakfast. I went into the gift shop that has a trout aquarium there.
This one has a crawl space for kids so they can stand up in the hole you see in the centre of the tank for a 360 view.
Finally, here is a shot from the truck window getting a peek at Lake Coeur d'Alene. This one is for Craigar
No worries Craigar I'll try to get some more (and better) pics of CDA before my run is over. And if you do make a trip out west, let me know. Maybe I can make a trip down or, if you have time, make a trip up to my place.
BBQ_Bill You do know the three stages of a man's life, don't you? First you believe in Santa, second you are Santa, and finally you look like Santa.........
First, let me apologise for this post, I wasn't expecting it to be what it is.
East of Fourth of July Pass to Lookout Pass is known as the Silver Valley of Idaho. Just east of Kellogg is a statue, I've passed by it several times. There is enough room there to turn the set around and park, so I thought it would be an interesting place to take a KBQ pic. Here's the statue:
It turns out it is a memorial to the worst mining disaster in the history of the Silver Valley. The names of all who did not survive are on the plaque and around the base are small memorial headstones put up by family members. A sign near the end of the parking area describes the event:
The whole thing was very sobering and made the rest of the drive back to Spokane melancholy, at times having trouble seeing down the road. I think it was bad windscreen wipers......
I Googled the disaster and came upon this video:
The first few minutes is an overview of the area. The rest of the video is on the disaster and stories from the survivors, stories of heroism and sheer luck. One fellow recounts how he, aged 25 at the time, got on the lift with his partner who was aged 50. The partner had asthma and left his inhaler in his lunch bucket. The young fellow told him he would fetch it for him, but when he got back to the lift it had filled up. Turns out everyone on the lift succumbed to the smoke, his life spared by his generous act.
I am glad you posted this. It is never a bad idea to be reminded of the past. I myself do not remember hearing of this. And it is certainly nothing to apologize for.
Last edited by lostclusters; December 2, 2017, 12:19 PM.
Today was a beautiful day to get some shots at Lookout Pass. The first is at the summit looking into Idaho with the blue sign welcoming you to Idaho and the green sign letting you know you will now be on Pacific Time.
Next is about a mile down the road at a historical marker pull out.
Then the historical signs. Can you imagine three million acres burnt?
Back in Spokane after a weekend at home. I stopped off at the Longhorn BBQ "....tending pits since '56" and got their 'Family Special'. A kilo of ribs, two sides, I got cole slaw and beans, with three cornbread muffins. Special price for the week as well, just $19.95.
I have to admit the past three weeks have been fairly easy, mostly dry roads with just occasional freezing fog. It hasn't been without its danger, a trucker from Brooklyn laid his rig over coming down Lookout Pass into Idaho on Tuesday and will be unfortunately going home in a box, driving too fast for conditions. Here is what it looked like one morning.
You can see the lift for Lookout Pass Ski Resort just above the top of the coffee mug. However, all this has come to an end. It's been snowing all weekend and another three to four feet of snow forecast through Tuesday. BTW, that isn't snowfall on the trees, it's freezing fog from the night before.
This week the weather arrived, chain requirements were up both ways over Lookout Pass on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here is what smart truckers do when it is that bad:
Here is what the dumb truckers do:
Obviously I aren't smart!
I pulled over to take this pic of the way up the summit:
I took this next one on the fly. Now don't try this at home, and especially in Washington state or it will get you an E-DUI which will probably be coming soon to a state near you. But I was in Montana, no traffic ahead or behind, and going about 10MPH.
HawkerXP didn't see a coolie in my new thread so I promised I'd shoot one with a coolie and post it in this tread. This shot is from the back of my property looking across the farm. The mountain in the backdrop is First Thot and used to have a fire lookout tower on it, which has now been moved to the park in Orient, WA. When the snow melts I'll take the coolie up top for some shots, the views are spectacular.
John "JR"
Minnesota/ United States of America
******************************************** Grills/Smokers/Fryers Big Green Egg (Large) X3
Blackstone 36" Outdoor Griddle 4-Burner
Burch Barrel V-1 Karubeque C-60 Kamado Joe Jr. (Black) Lodge L410 Hibachi Pit Barrel Cooker Pit Barrel Cooker 2.0
Pit Barrel PBX
R&V Works FF2-R-ST 4-Gallon Fryer *******************************************. Thermometers
FireBoard (Base Package)
Thermoworks ThermaPen (Red)
Thermoworks MK4 (Orange)
********************************* Accessories Big Green Egg Plate Setter
Benzomatic TS800 High Temp Torch X 2 Bayou Classic 44 qt Stainless Stock Pot
Bayou Classic 35K BTU Burner Eggspander Kit X2 Finex Cat Iron Line FireBoard Drive Lots and Lots of Griswold Cast Iron Grill Grates Joule Water Circulator
KBQ Fire Grate Kick Ash Basket (KAB) X4 Lots of Lodge Cast Iron Husky 6 Drawer BBQ Equipment Cabinet Large Vortex Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum Marquette Castings No. 13 (First Run) Smithey No. 12 Smokeware Chimney Cap X 3 Stargazer No.10, 12 ******************************** Fuel FOGO Priemium Lump Charcoal Kingsford Blue and White B&B Charcoal Apple, Cherry & Oak Log splits for the C-60 ************************************************* Cutlery Buck 119 Special
Cuda 7' Fillet Knife Dexter 12" Brisket Sword Global Shun Wusthof ********** Next Major Purchase Lone Star Grillz 24 X 48 Offset
I got up at 06:00 on Thursday, an hour later I got a text from UPS asking if I could cover the Coeur d'Alene (CDA) run that night at 18:30 and Friday night. So a mad rush to get the farm ready and I left for CDA getting there at 18:00. The run was to take a set from CDA to Spokane. Then another set from Spokane to Sandpoint, ID, picking up another set back to Spokane. Then another set to Sandpoint and bringing two empties back to CDA, finishing at 07:00. I had to find a motel room and finally got some sleep at 09:00, twenty-six straight hours. I got up at 15:30 and went for supper (breakfast, whatever) at 16:30. I had a 6oz sirloin with four pork ribs at the Texas Roadhouse. It was already snowing when I woke up and kept up through the night. Thankfully I didn't have a second Sandpoint turn so I finished work at 04:10. Went back to the motel to get a few hours sleep before the drive back home. Before leaving I took the coolie for some photo ops around town as I know our AR brother Craigar really enjoys this town.
I came upon this fellow scything the snow. I thought it pointless and asked, but he didn't even bother with a response. Go figure, eh?
This fellow was standing a few metres away. He didn't have anything to say either.
As you have already guessed, CDA is big on public art. This sundial was located not far from the statues. Disappointingly it was broken.....
All of the above was located in McEuen Park. This work was located on a corner of Sherman Ave. BTW, it is for sale, a mere $6200. Which means you could choose between it or a Lang, a Yoder, AND a KBQ.
Back in the truck I drove over to the boat launch. I actually wanted to get closer to the lake, but they hadn't gotten around to finish ploughing.
I left town via Northwest Blvd and turned into North Idaho College to get a lake shot. By then it was snowing heavily, so it wasn't in the cards.
I was on my way to Spokane to have breakfast at Frank's Diner but when I got to Post Falls I remembered GW Hunters so I changed plans and got a buffalo burger and fries. The decor is interesting, to say the least.
By the time I finished eating the snow had abated. The roads got better, and by the time I got to Colville they were bare and dry, just an occasional truck booger. Mrs. CN had asked me to check the PO Box, so I walked down to the end of the block and got a shot of Colville's piece of public art. It appears the prospector struck gold!
thanks for all the shots especially ComfortablyNumb! I killed a few hours learning about the mine disaster and looking at your travels. Great page, keep up the great work!
hogdog6 Most are of my backyard, literally. The rest are not that far off, less than a days drive. I wish more folks with coolies would participate, remember what is local to you is exotic to others. Utah has some beautiful and interesting places, toss your coolie in your car!
I got called into work Monday afternoon, I was told I'd be doing a North Bend run which is taking a set from Spokane over Snoqualmie Pass to North Bend, WA. There I meet a driver from Seattle, swap loads, and go back to Spokane. When I got to work they had only generated one trailer, so I was redirected to Wenatchee. The Wenatchee driver takes a load and an empty to Seattle, so I gave him the Spokane load and brought his empty back, stopping in Moses Lake to pick up another empty. I finished at 03:30 and decided to have breakfast at Frank's Diner in downtown Spokane. They don't open until 06:00, so I figured I could catch a few winks. Unfortunately there was a sign out front that they were closed today and tomorrow for kitchen remodeling, so I had to head to North Spokane to eat at their other location. In my opinion, and from the awards, others as well, Frank's has the best breakfast in Spokane. A couple others on the AR forum believe the Old European Restaurant does. So on their suggestion I tried it once, apples to apples Frank's is best. Apple to oranges, well I suppose that is if you like apples or oranges. I like a classic bacon (or sausage) eggs, and hash browns with toast for breakfast. Frank's gives a larger portion, better bacon, and offers caramelised onions and gravy on their browns. But Frank's is only classic American diner fare, Old European has a larger menu with European specialties, so if you are looking for that than OE would appeal to you. Frank's also wins on decor, their restaurant is a 1913 converted Pullman car restored to the nines, and OE cannot hold a candle in comparison. If you are in Spokane, I recommend both, but if you only have time to try one, go to Frank's.
Anyway, enough natter, on to the pics!
Here is a shot of the original Frank's located in downtown Spokane. The iPhone does not do it justice.
A shot through the window as I wasn't getting inside today.
Frank's North Spokane diner. This car was found abandoned on a side track in the 1990s where it had last been used to feed rail workers.
A shot from the back of the restaurant.
My breakfast.
A view from my table.
And finally a view looking from the front. I can see HouseHomey standing at that grill working the patrons at the counter. However I don't see that California beach boy getting used to the winters....
Equipment
Primo Oval xl
Slow n Sear (two)
Drip n Griddle
22" Weber Kettle
26" Weber Kettle one touch
Blackstone 36†Pro Series
Sous vide machine
Kitchen Aid
Meat grinder
sausage stuffer
5 Crock Pots Akootrimonts
Two chimneys (was 3 but rivets finally popped, down to 1)
cast iron pans,
Dutch ovens
Signals 4 probe, thermapens, chef alarms, Dots, thermapop and maverick T-732, RTC-600, pro needle and various pocket instareads. The help and preferences
1 extra fridge and a deep chest freezer in the garage
KBB
FOGO
A 9 year old princess foster child
Patience and old patio furniture
"Baby Girl" The cat
ComfortablyNumb oh yeah!! We could eat off of those (3) flat tops. I'd turn on that fryer too! I used to throw my diced taters in there and finish them clarified butter on the flattop with any fixings you like.
What a gorgeous diner. Carmelized onions and gravy. I'm all over that like a Hobo on a hotdog.
We could definitely feed a few from there. These days I've traded in my spatula for ( still use it occasionally for a stir fry in batches) for 2 steamers, 6 convection ovens, tilt skillet, Hobarts and range tops.
the first and only time i've ever seen a real snow was in Spokane. We stayed at a holiday inn at the top of the hill next to the river and across from the arena that my son was wrestling in. That's all I remember. I think there's like an Elks club or something like that across the street.
we decided to walk home from the arena because we couldn't get a taxi and took the long way around the river and then back up the hill to the holiday inn. My wife almost didn't make it she was frozen stiff and I had to throw her in the bathtub in the hotel room was thinking about calling an ambulance. Crazy I think it was like -6° or something. It was 14° or right around zero when we landed at the airport in Spokane. My only experience with snow and I was in a hoodie. I don't have winter gear.
I guess you could say we were out of place and made some stupid mistakes and it was cold.
I had to go back and reread this entire post from the beginning what an awesome thread.
Keep it going.
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